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MAA Math Alert - February 2012

News and Views

SIGMAA RUME Conference
The Conference on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education will be held February 23-35, 2012 in Portland, OR.More.

David Blackwell Memorial Conference
The David Blackwell Memorial Conference will be held April 19-20, 2012, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., to celebrate Dr. Blackwell's legacy as well as the advances he made in mathematics and statistics. Registration is now open.More.

15thAnnual Legacy of R. L. Moore Conference
"The Many Faces of Inquiry-Based Learning," co-sponsored by the MAA and the Educational Advancement Foundation, will take place at the Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark on June 14-16, 2012. Registration is now open.More.

Victoria Xia Represents MAA at White House Science Fair
On February 7, President Obama hosted the secondWhite House Science Faircelebrating thestudent winnersof a broad range of STEM competitions. The MAA was represented by Victoria Xia, a sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia.Article.

President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released its report entitled "Engage to Excel: Producing One Million Additional College Graduates with Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics." This report provides a strategy for improving STEM education during the first two years of college.More.

MathEducation Gets Boost in NSF FY 2013 Budget
The proposed National Science Foundation budget includes $30 million for a new initiative to move successful approaches to teaching and learning in mathematics from early research through to widespread, effective use at the elementary, high school, and early undergraduate levels.Article.

AMC Results
The AMC 10 A/12 A, the first date of the MAA'smathcontest for high school students, grades 10 and below and grades 12 and below, took place on Tuesday, February 7. Check theAMC webpage, for interesting AMC 10/12 A results and statistics as early as February 15! The date for the alternateAMC 10 B and AMC 12 B is February 22, including many university and college administrations. Watch for results and statistics as early as February 29.

Abstract Submission for MAA MathFest 2012 Now Open
Abstracts and calls for papers for MAA MathFest 2012 are now being accepted.More.

Call for Papers
Submissions are sought for the November 2013 issue of theCollege Mathematics Journal, which will be devoted to the Mathematics of Planet Earth.More.

Project NExT
Applications are invited for the Nineteenth Cohort of Project NExT Fellows.More.

MathTeachers' Circles Workshops
MathTeachers' Circles can be powerful vehicles for engaging middle school teachers in authentic mathematical experiences that will ultimately impact their understanding and teaching of mathematics. The American Institute of Mathematics (AIM) announces two workshops for teams of mathematicians and teachers who are interested in beginning their ownMathTeachers' Circle. For more details and to apply, please clickhere. Applications due March 16.

MathHorizonsRenewalsMathHorizonsrenewals for the upcoming school year (Fall 2012) are in the mail. Please be sure to renew your bulk subscription toMathHorizonsso that your students won't miss a single issue.More.

Last Chance to register for the 2012 MAA Study Tour to Italy
Registration deadline is March 9th. Details available atwww.maa.org/studytour.

Pi Day 2012
March 14 is almost here! Send your pi photos toeditor@maa.org. Pi day activities, videos, and puzzleshere.

International Summer School for Students
Applications are now being accepted for the International Summer School of Mathematics for Young Students (ages 16-20), to be held in Lyon, France.Information.

Mathematics of Planet Earth
Enter the competition to create an interactive, online module for an open-source exhibition as part of the worldwide initiative Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013.Information.

Featured Articles

"Geodesics on the Blogosphere"
Brie Finegold (University of Arizona) writes about the mathematical blogosphere and how "such informal mathematical writing is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for bringingmathto the general public, schoolteachers, and those in academe."Article.

David Bressoud'sLaunchings
David Bressoud reviews the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education StatisticsDigest of Education Statisticsand looks at trends in race/ethnicity and gender representation in the mathematical sciences.Blog.

Devlin's Angle
In his February column, Keith Devlin encourages fellow academicsto become more proactive in disseminating what they have learned in mathematics education through new channels such as Twitter and blogs.Blog.

Mathematical Communication Blog
Ivars Peterson argues that "article titles make a difference" in this week's entry in a new blog introducing the Mathematical Communication section of the MathDL website.Blog.